CAIRO: Egypt devalued its pound by 14% on Monday after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted overseas traders to tug billions of {dollars} out of Egyptian treasury markets, placing strain on the forex.
The pound dropped to 18.17-18.27 (US$1 or RM4.21) to towards the greenback, Refinitiv knowledge confirmed, after having traded at round 15.7 kilos (RM3.63) to the greenback since November 2020.
The central financial institution additionally hiked in a single day rates of interest by 100 foundation factors in a shock financial coverage assembly.
Egypt’s central financial institution governor Tarek Amer informed a press convention the pound had undergone a “correction” that mirrored world and native developments. The correction would make exports aggressive and assist protect overseas forex liquidity.
Egypt has been in discussions with the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) about potential help, sources stated, but it surely has not introduced any formal request.
“It is a good transfer to make because the devaluation of the pound strikes it roughly according to its truthful worth and it might pave the best way for a brand new IMF deal,” stated James Swanston of Capital Economics.
“Nonetheless, it is going to be key whether or not policymakers now permit the pound to drift extra freely or proceed to handle it and permit exterior imbalances to construct up as soon as extra, probably leading to future step devaluations like at this time’s,” Swanston stated.
The IMF in Cairo was not instantly accessible for remark.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan arrived in Egypt on Monday to satisfy President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The UAE, together with Saudi Arabia, has been a powerful monetary backer of Egypt. Sisi flew to Riyadh to satisfy Saudi leaders on March 8.
Monday’s weakening of the pound might catalyse inflows of overseas forex, whereas traders who already had cash in Egyptian treasuries can be unlikely to promote now, stated Farouk Soussa, senior economist at Goldman Sachs.
“The transfer is designed to lure liquidity out there and herald traders who could be sitting on the sidelines ready for the pound to backside out,” he stated.
However it’ll additionally doubtless add to inflation and potential native dollarisation.
“The massive query is whether or not that is sufficient, or if extra could be wanted to entice portfolio traders,” Soussa stated.
Shortages of {dollars} have led to blockages at Egyptian ports, after importers couldn’t receive vital overseas forex for letters of credit score to get their items cleared, bankers stated.
The struggle in Ukraine has additionally left Egypt going through larger prices for its substantial wheat import wants in addition to a loss in tourism income from Russian and Ukrainian guests to Purple Sea resorts. Russia and Ukraine are the principle suppliers of wheat to Egypt, which is usually the world’s largest importer.
The upper wheat costs might practically double the annual state spending on wheat imports to US$5.7bil (RM24bil), in line with a research final week by the Worldwide Meals Coverage Analysis Institute, straining authorities funds and fueling inflation strain.
Headline inflation has accelerated to its highest stage in practically three years, registering 8.8% final month and touching the higher restrict of the central financial institution’s 5% to 9% goal vary.
The finance ministry will allocate 130 billion kilos (RM30bil) “to mitigate the repercussions of worldwide financial challenges,” it stated in a press release on Monday. The bundle contains fixing the import customs alternate fee for fundamental commodities and manufacturing necessities at 16 kilos (RM3.70) to the greenback and decreasing the capital beneficial properties on preliminary public share choices. — Reuters